Author Archives: achicotel

Last month’s Human Rights Watch report on the misuse of antipsychotic drugs on nursing home residents led to a number of insightful news stories highlighting the chemical restraint crisis in long term care. Among the media outlets that featured stories were: … Continue reading →

Here is CANHR’s breakdown of the highlights of the new HRW report: http://www.canhr.org/newsroom/newdev_archive/2018/highlights-human-rights-watch.pdf

Last month’s story from CNN about mismarketing and inappropriate administration of Nuedexta (“the little red pill”) to nursing home residents is certainly not surprising to anyone who follows the systemic drugging of people with dementia.  When CMS launched its campaign … Continue reading →

It’s been long understood that the most important determinant in whether a nursing home resident receives a psychotropic drug is not her diagnosis, her age, or her presentation of symptoms; rather, it is the facility’s psych drug usage rates.  In … Continue reading →

A nursing home survey from last year reveals the terrible story of a resident of Paradise Ridge Post Acute (formerly called Cypress Healthcare Center) in Paradise, CA.  The state survey team saw the resident in a deep sleep in the … Continue reading →

Neurology Today has an article about antipsychotics exacerbating symptoms of delirium for patients receiving hospice care.  The article is centered on a recent study in which Haldol and Risperdal were found to increase delirium, distress, and other negative health outcomes when … Continue reading →

What factors are associated with high antipsychotic use in nursing homes? A recent study analyzed contributory factors by reviewing a number of prior studies.  Here is a list of some of the factors associated with higher antipsychotic usage: Smaller facilities … Continue reading →

A study released earlier this year found alarming rates of psychotropic drug use in assisted living facilities, for residents with and without dementia.  Thirty-seven percent of the studied assisted living residents were drugged with antipsychotics, 40% with anti-anxiety drugs, and … Continue reading →

Intercommunity Healthcare, a nursing home in Norwalk, CA was cited recently for giving a 94 year old man Seroquel, a powerful antipsychotic associated with serious side effects and death in the elderly, for scratching and itching “behavior” related to a … Continue reading →

CaringKind has released a new guide to non-drugging dementia treatment for long-term care providers.  The guide has excellent advice for how to set up a progressive and successful comfort focused model of care in long-term care settings, such as nursing … Continue reading →